Categories: uncategorized
Date: 20 September 2004 10:03:15
A very long service this morning, but for a special reason, with the Bishop of Plymouth in attendance.
Firstly, the blessing of the Patronal Banner, made by a member of the congregation, showing S. Eustachius with a crucifix caught in his antlers. Secondly, the blessing of the new churchwardens' wands (did the previous ones get broken in a fit of violent smiting, as they tried to emulate the Church of Fools??) and thirdly, because it was the confirmation service of thirteen candidates of all ages from 10 to 80, from our benefice and the one next door. The church was crowded with the usual culprits plus visitors and the queues for communion stretched around the church.
Typically, on one of the longest services of the year, we sing one of the shortest anthems of the year: O Holy Spirit, by Tye. This gave the organist a chance to indulge himself in an extremely long musical interlude as we hung about at the back of church waiting until there was room to process back into our places.
Evensong was preceded by a delicious cream tea, provided by the Friends of S. Eustachius - not many people there, so I had to do the decent thing and eat a second helping. The church was much quieter this evening, but still more in attendance than on a usual Sunday evening. We treated them to Psalm 150 (Stanford) and 'How lovely are thy Dwellings' by Brahms - no mean feat with several of the sopranos absent. Fortunately the others rose to the occasion and didn't give Brahms too much reason to turn in his grave.....